Game apparatus



F. s. 'SAUPEA GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, 1918.

Patented @011.255,1919.'

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GAME APPARATUS.

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FRANK S. SAUPER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed Aug'ust 6, 1918.

To all whom z5 may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK S. SAUPER, a citizen o-f the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and has particular reference to a game device designed for use especially in the playing of base ball. The object of my invention is the production of a game device of the character mentioned which will be of durable and economical construction, and through the medium of which the playing of a base ball game may be simulated with considerable accuracy and in a manner which will alford considerable amusement to the players.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to ,the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specication, and in which,

Figure 1, is a top plan view of a game device embodying the invention,

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the device, with the cover plate or top wall thereof removed,

Figs. 3 and 4, top plan views of notched actuating bars employed in the construction,

Fig. 5, an enlarged top plan view of a double switch member included in the device,

Fig. 6, a slightly enlarged section taken on substantially line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7, a slightly enlarged section taken on substantially line 7 7 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8, a top plan view of a portion of the device substantially in the condition seen in Fig. 2, except that certain parts have been removed and broken away to expose underlying detail construction.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a circular base plate 10, over which is secured a circular intermediate plate 11 forming a space 12 between the central portions `thereof. Arising from the periphery, of base plate 10 is a flange 13, upon which is Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

Serial No. 248,531.

secured a circular cover plate 14, the arrangement being such that a space is formed between the plates 11 and 14.

Formed in the plate 14, adjacent one side thereof, is a recess 15, which is the starting point for a ball 16 which is used in the playing of the game. Leading from the recess 15 is a passage 17 which, as clearly seen in Fig. 6, first rises and then descends or inclines downwardly, said passage 17 belng formed partly in the member 14, the greater proportion of the length thereof being, however, formed in the upper side of the plate 11.

Leading from the inner end of the passage 17 are two laterally extending passages 18 and 18, from which lead branch passages 19, 20, 21 and 22, and 19, 20, 21 and 22, respectively. The passage 19 terminates in branch passages 23 and 24 which lead to pockets 25 and 26, respectively. Similarly, the passages 20, 21 and 22 terminate in branch passages 27 and 28, 31 and 32, and 35 and 36; passages27 and 28, 31 and 32, and 35 and 36 leading to pockets 29, 30, 33, 34, 37 and 38, respectively. The passages 19, 20, 21 and 22 terminate in branch passages and pockets in precisely the same manner as the lbranch passages 19, 20, 21 and 22, the branch passages to which said passages 19, 20, 21 and 22 lead being numbered 23 and 24', 27 and 28', 31 and 32, and 35 and 36'.; the pockets being numbered 25', 26', 29', 30, 33', 34', 37 and 38 respectively.

Also leading from the inner end of the main passage 17 is a centrally positioned branch passage 39 which terminates in three branch passages 40, 41 and 42 which lead to pockets 43, 44 and 45, respectively. The outer ends of passages 18 and 18 terminate or lead to pockets 46 and 46, respectively.

Controlling communication between passage 17 and branch passages 18 and 18 is a switch 47 pivoted at 47 said switch being operable, as clearly seen in Fig. 6, by means of -a lever 48 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 49. One end 50 of said lever projects through an elongated slot in the plate 11 for connection with switch 47, the opposite end of said lever projecting through an elongated slot 52 and being provided with an exteriorly positioned button or nger piece 53. Communication between the pas` sage 18 and branch passages 19, 20, 21 and 22 is controlled by pivoted switch members 54, 55, 56 and 57, respectively, which are connected by shiftable bars 58 with shiftably mounted buttons or finger pieces 59', 60, 61 and 62, respectively. Similarly, communication between passage 18 and branch passages 19, 20', 21 and 22 is controlled by pivotally mounted switch members 54, 55, 56 and 57, respectively, which are operatively connected through connecting bars 58 with linger pieces 59, 60', 61 and 62, respectively. rlhe member 11 is slotted to allow for the desired shifting` of the buttons 59, 60, 61 and 62, and 59, 60, 61, and 62, in order to effect shifting of any of the switches controlled by said buttons.

Communication between the passages 19, 20, 21 and 22 and the branch passages to which the former lead is controlled by pivotally mounted switches 63, 64, 65 and 66, respectively, which switches are operatively connected through bars 67 with exteriorly positioned shiftably mounted buttons or finger pieces 68, 69, 70 and 71, respectively. Similarly, switches 63', 64, 65, and 66 control communication between the passages 19, 20', 21 and 22 and the branch passages to which the latter lead, said switches being connected through the medium of bars 67 to shiftably mounted operating buttons or linger pieces 68, 69, 70 and 71, respectively. Communication between the main passage 17 and the branch passage 39 is further controlled by switches 72 and 73 arranged behind and at either side of the switch 47, the switches 72 and 73 being operatively connected by bars 74 with eXteriorly positioned shiftably mounted buttons or linger pieces 75 and 76, respectively. Communication between the passa-ge 39 and branch passages 40 and 42 is controlled by a switch 77 mounted in precisely the same manner as the switch 47 and operated through the medium of a lever 78 arranged directly below the lever 48 and fulcrumed at the same point 49, the lever 78 being manually operated through the medium of an eXteriorly positioned shiftably mounted button 79 which is arranged adjacent the button 53 which controls lever 48. Communication between passage 39 and the branch passages 40, 41 and 42 is further controlled through the Inedium of a double switch member 80 shown in detail in F ig. 5. The. switch 8O is pivoted at 81 and is operated through the medium of a lever 82 fulcriuned intermediate its ends at 83. One end of said lever is operatively connected at 84 with switch 80, the opposite end of said lever being provided with an eX- teriorly positioned button 85, whereby the same may be actuated. The passageJ 41 is formed centrally in the upper side of the double switch 80, the latter being grooved for this purpose. The operating bars and levers heretofore described are arranged below t-he plate 11 in the compartment 12 which is provided for this purpose.

Coperating with the buttons 68, 69, 70 and 71, and 68, 69, 70 and 71 is a shift-ably mounted plate or bar 86, which is held in position in a groove formed therefor in the upper side of plate 11 by straps 87. Cnc edge of the member 86 is formed with notches 88 adapted for registration with said operating buttons, the arrangement being such that said buttons may be shifted to etfect operation of the switches controlled thereby only when said buttons are registering with the notches 88 provided in the member 86. With this arrangement it will be seen that a player having control of said buttons is prevented from closing all of the switches controlled by him, he being restricted to a certain eXtent inasmuch as the notches in the member 86 are so positioned that at no time may all of the switch buttons be shifted to clect closing of all of the switches controlled thereby.

At the opposite side of the board is similarly arranged a shiftably mounted member 90 arranged under straps 91. The member 90 is formed with a notch 92 which may be brought into registration with either of the two buttons 75 and 76, the arrangement being such that only one of said buttons may be operated at a time, since only that button may be operated which is in registration with notch 92. The buttons 59, 60, 61 and 62, and 59', 60, 61 and 62 are not agected by the member 90, being at all times op erable independently of said member 90. Plates 86 and 90 are formed at their upper sides with recesses 89 and 93, respectively, into which the fingers of the players may be inserted to facilitate shifting of said plates.

The top ot the member 14 is laid out to resemble a base ball diamond, the pockets 26, 30, 34 and 38 being designated 1 base hit, 2 base hit, 3 basehitf and Home run, respectively; the pockets 25, 29, 33 and 37 being each designated Out.7 These refer to the left lield, In the right iield the pockets are similarly designated. The pockets 46 and 46 are each designated FouL indicating that a ball has been hit out of bounds. The pockets 43 and 45 are each designated Ball and the pocket 44 is designated Strike All of said pockets open outwardly, the cover member 14 having slots or openings registering therewith.

Two players are employed in the playing of the game, the players being arranged at opposite sides of the device in positions to operate the buttons or linger pieces at opposite sides of the device. The player at the side of the device closest the recess 15 represents the out team or the one in the field, and the player at the opposite side of the device represents the in team or the team at bat. The player for the out team then pushes the ball 16 from the recess 15 into the passage 17, the incline at the start of the latter lgiving the -ball the desired momentum to carry the same into any one of the pockets toward which the same may be directed. The ide-a is that the players will manipulate the various buttons or Enger pieces at the opposite sides of the device, the player representing the team in the field endeavor-ing to canes the ball to roll into an Out Strike or Foul pocket, and the player representing the team at bat endeavoring to cause the ball to roll into a Base hit Home run or Ball pocket. The course of the ball is of course controlled by manipulation of the various buttons which control the various switches, and the score of tallies and outs is kept as in ordinary base ball. As the switches are shown in the drawings, a two base hit to the left field will be made by the team at bat, it being clear that as the ball is projected along the passage 17 the switches 47 and 7 2 will cause the same to be directed into the passage 18, whence the same, by reason of the switch 55, will be caused to roll into passage 20 and whence, by reason of the switch 64, the ball will be caused to roll into passage 28 and thence into pocket 30 for a two base hit as mentioned. The player representing the team in the field continues to successively project the ball from the recess 15 into the passage 17, as above described, until three outs have been registered against the team at bat, whereupon the players shift positions at the board, the game proceeding for as many innings as desired. The player wins who at the end of a predetermined time, for instance nine innings, has the most runs or tallies to his credit. rlhe upper side of the top plate 14 is formed with two grooves 94, along which the ball 16 may be returned by the player representing the in team, when the ball finds its way into the pocket 43, 44 or 45.

The buttons at the opposite sides of the board, when the latter is not in use,'are covered by hinged cover plates 95, which are held in closed position by turn fasteners 96. When the device is in use, the members 95 are swung up to vertical position, as seen in Fig. 6, so as to constitute guards to preventJ each player observing which butttons are being actuated by his opponent.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention linto effect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new Iand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A game apparatus comprising a system of communicating passages, said system comprising a main passage and a plurality of branch passages leading from said main passage; manually operated means for control- .ling the direction of travel of a projectile after leaving said main passage; and pockets to which said passages lead, substantially described.

2. A game apparatus comprising a system of communicating passages, said system comprising a main passage and a plurality of branch passages leading from said main passage; and manually operated means operablefrom a plurality of separated stations for controlling the direction of travel of a ,projectile after leaving said main passage, substantially as described.

3. A game apparatus comprising a system of passages; a projectile adapted to be projected along said passages; manually operated switches for controlling the direction of travel of said projectile in said passages; and means for locking certain of said switches against actuation, substantially as described.

4. A game apparatus comprising a system of passages; a projectile adapted to be proj ected along said passages; manually operated switches for controlling Jthe direction of travel of said projectile in said passages; and manually operable means for locking certain of said switches against actuation, substantially as described.

5. A game apparatus comprising a system of communicating passages, said system comprising a main passage and a plurality of branch passages leading from said main passage; switches for controlling the direction of travel of said projectile after leaving sa'id main passage; and a plurality of separated sets of keys for actuating said switches, substantially as described.

6. A ygame apparatus comprising a system of concealed communicating passages, said system comprising a main passage and a plurality of branch passages leading from said main passage; concealed switches for controlling the direction of travel of said projectile after leaving said main passage; and a plurality of separated sets of keys for actuating said switches, substantially as described.

7. A game apparatus comprising a system of communicating passages, said system comprising a main passage `and a plurality of branch passages leading from said main passage; switches for controlling the direction of travel of said projectile after leaving said main passage; a plurality of separated sets of keys for acuating said switches; and manually operable adjustable means copof keys being operated at one time, sub? stantially as described.

8. A game apparatus comprising a system of passages; a projectile adapted to be projected -along said passages; manually operated switches for controlling the direction of travel of said projectile in said passages; and manually operable adjustable means adapted to permit oi" only a limited number of said switches being operated at one time, substantially as described.

9. A game apparatus comprising a system of concealed communicating passages, said system comprising a main passage and a plurality or' branch passages leading from said main passage; concealed switches for controlling the direction of travel of said projectile lafter leaving said main passage; a plurality of separated sets of keys for acsages; manually operable adjustable means adapted to permit of only a. limited number of said switches being operated at one time; and outwardly opening pockets to which said branch passages lead, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK S. SAUPER. Witnesses ARTHUR A. OLSON, J osHUA R. H. PoT'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

